Chapter 10: The Ultimatum

It was close to 10:00 p.m. when Mahendra Rathore returned to the Rathore Palace in Rajgarh.

After freshening up, he didn't go to his room.

Instead, he walked towards his study.

He rang the small brass bell kept on his desk.

A servant entered.

Servant: "Yes, Bade Saab?"

Mahendra: "Ask Mahesh and Veeresh to come to my study."

Servant: "Ji, Bade Saab."

A few minutes later, Mahesh Rathore and Veeresh Rathore entered the room.

Seeing Mahendra's serious expression, both understood that something important was about to be discussed.

Mahesh: "Bauji, you called us?"

Mahendra gestured towards the chairs.

Mahendra: "Sit."

Both father and son sat quietly.

After a brief silence, Mahendra spoke.

Mahendra: "Veeresh, I have found a marriage proposal for you."

Veeresh looked at his grandfather in disbelief.

Veeresh: "Dadu..."

Mahendra continued calmly.

Mahendra: "Before you ask anything, let me tell you this—I have already told the girl's family the complete truth."

Veeresh frowned.

Veeresh: "What truth?"

Mahendra: "That you are divorced."

He counted on his fingers.

Mahendra: "That you are forty-one years old."

Mahendra: "That you have three children—two teenagers and one young daughter."

Mahendra: "That your children are your first responsibility."

He looked directly into Veeresh's eyes.

Mahendra: "I hid nothing."

Veeresh was silent.

Mahendra: "Even after knowing everything, they have not objected."

Veeresh immediately shook his head.

Veeresh: "Not possible."

Mahesh looked at his son.

Veeresh: "Dadu, I have two teenage sons and a young daughter."

He sighed heavily.

Veeresh: "I am forty-one years old."

His voice carried years of exhaustion.

Veeresh: "And you want me to marry again?"

He stood up from his chair.

Veeresh: "I've had enough from my first marriage."

The room fell silent.

Mahendra remained calm.

Mahendra: "Not every relationship ends the way your first one did."

Veeresh shook his head.

Veeresh: "I don't have the strength to start over."

Mahendra's expression hardened.

Mahendra: "You are refusing because of fear, not because you've truly thought about it."

Veeresh looked away.

Mahendra: "I'm not asking you to answer today."

He stood up slowly.

Mahendra: "I'm giving you two days."

Veeresh looked at him.

Veeresh: "Dadu..."

Mahendra's voice became firm.

Mahendra: "If, after two days, you refuse even to consider meeting her..."

He paused before saying words that stunned both father and grandson.

Mahendra: "I will walk away from this house forever."

Mahesh immediately stood up.

Mahesh: "Bauji!"

Veeresh's eyes widened.

Veeresh: "Dadu, please don't say that."

Mahendra didn't change his expression.

Mahendra: "I have said what I had to say."

He walked towards the door.

Without turning back, he spoke one final time.

Mahendra: "I will be waiting for your answer."

With that, he quietly left the study.

Mahesh and Veeresh remained standing in stunned silence.

For the first time in his life, Veeresh had seen his grandfather use his own departure from the family as an ultimatum—and it shook him more than any business crisis ever had.